| Carson Palmer was born on December 27, 1979 | | | | senior year. Under offensive coordinator Norm |
| in Fresno, California. Although Palmer does not | | | | Chow, Palmer ended the season with 3,942 yards |
| have the athleticism of some of the other great | | | | on 309 completions. This went along with 33 |
| NFL quarterbacks, he has everything that he | | | | touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. To cap off |
| needs to succeed. This includes having a strong | | | | his great senior season Palmer was awarded with |
| arm, great pocket presence, and being one of the | | | | the Heisman Trophy. |
| smartest quarterbacks in the league. | | | | In the 2003 NFL Draft Palmer was selected with |
| Palmer played high school football at Santa | | | | the first overall pick by the Cincinnati Bengals. |
| Margarita Catholic High School. As a senior, | | | | After not touching the field during his rookie |
| colleges from all over the country took notice of | | | | season, he was then thrust into the heat of the |
| him as he passed for 31 touchdowns and only | | | | battle. In his first full season in 2004 Palmer |
| four interceptions. When his high school career | | | | passed for 2,897 yards. He followed this up with |
| was over, Palmer held 27 school records. | | | | 3,836 yards in 2005, and a trip to the playoffs. |
| After high school Palmer decided to play at the | | | | Unfortunately, Palmer tore both the ACL and MCL |
| University of Southern California. During his | | | | in his left knee in a first round game against the |
| freshman season in 1998, Palmer was named the | | | | Pittsburgh Steelers. |
| starting quarterback in the ninth game of the | | | | The 2006 season was Palmers' first since the |
| season; a position that he would hold for the rest | | | | injury, and it did not appear to hold him back at all. |
| of his career. | | | | He finished with 4,035 yards and 28 touchdowns. |
| Palmer had three up and down seasons for the | | | | There is plenty more of this to come. |
| Trojans, but things changed dramatically during his | | | | |